Elbow orthosis

Abstract

An orthosis includes a first arm cuff for attachment to a first body portion, a first arm member, a first extension member, a second cuff for attachment to a second body portion, a second arm member, and a second extension member. The orthosis can also include a drive assembly comprising a knob and a shaft. The first cuff and the second cuff may each include at least one cuff strap and at least one loop connector for receiving the at least one cuff strap. A method of using the orthosis includes coupling a first cuff to a first body portion, coupling a second cuff to a second body portion, wherein the second cuff is coupled to the first cuff, and rotating the first and second cuff from a first position to a second position, relative to the second cuff.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. An orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint disposed between first and second body portions of a patient, comprising:
 a first arm member; 
 a first cuff secured to the first arm member and adapted for securement to the first body portion; 
 a second arm member; 
 a second cuff secured to the second arm member and adapted for securement to the second body portion, wherein the first cuff has an angular position relative to the second cuff; and 
 an arm connector interconnecting the first and second arm members, 
 wherein the first arm member and the arm connector are selectively movable together relative to the second arm member to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff, 
 wherein the first arm member is selectively movable relative to the arm connector independent of the arm connector moving relative to the second arm member to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff. 
 
     
     
       2. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a drive assembly adapted to move the first arm member and the arm connector together relative to the second arm member to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff. 
     
     
       3. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first arm member is selectively movable relative to the arm connector to a discrete number of positions to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff. 
     
     
       4. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 1 , wherein movement of the first arm member relative to the arm connector increases range of motion of the device. 
     
     
       5. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second arm member includes a second extension member extending away from the second cuff, wherein the arm connector is connected to and movable along the second extension member. 
     
     
       6. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the arm connector is movable along an arcuate path defined by the second extension member. 
     
     
       7. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the second extension member includes a plurality of teeth spaced apart from one another along the arcuate path. 
     
     
       8. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a drive assembly on the arm connector and in meshing engagement with the plurality of teeth of the second extension member, the drive assembly adapted to move the first arm member and the arm connector together relative to the second arm member to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff. 
     
     
       9. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the arm connector includes a third extension member, wherein the first arm member is operatively connected to and movable along the third extension member. 
     
     
       10. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the first arm member includes a first extension member extending away from the first cuff and connecting the first arm member to the third extension member, wherein the first extension member is movable along the third extension member. 
     
     
       11. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the first extension member is slidable along the third extension member. 
     
     
       12. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the first extension member is slidable along the third extension member to a plurality of discrete positions along the third extension member. 
     
     
       13. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a locking pin removably positionable through the first and third extension members to selectively inhibit sliding of the first extension member relative to the third extension member. 
     
     
       14. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the first extension member is movable along an arcuate path defined by the third extension member. 
     
     
       15. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the joint and the first and second body portions define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, such that the operative connections of the first and second arm members and the arm connector are located in the outer sector. 
     
     
       16. An orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint disposed between first and second body portions of a patient, comprising:
 a first arm member; 
 a first cuff secured to the first arm member and adapted for securement to the first body portion; 
 a second arm member; 
 a second cuff secured to the second arm member and adapted for securement to the second body portion, wherein the first cuff has an angular position relative to the second cuff; 
 an arm connector interconnecting the first and second arm members; and 
 a drive assembly on the arm connector, wherein the drive assembly is operable to drive movement of the arm connector and the first arm member together along the second arm member to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff, 
 wherein the first arm member is selectively movable along the arm connector independent of the arm connector moving relative to the second arm member to adjust the angular position of the first cuff relative to the second cuff independent of the drive assembly. 
 
     
     
       17. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint of a patient set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the second arm member defines an arcuate path along which the drive assembly is operable to drive movement of the arm connector. 
     
     
       18. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint of a patient set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the first arm member is movable along an arcuate path defined by the arm connector. 
     
     
       19. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint of a patient set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the second arm member includes a plurality of teeth spaced apart along the arcuate path. 
     
     
       20. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint of a patient set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the first arm member is slidable along the arm connector to a plurality of discrete positions along the arm connector. 
     
     
       21. The orthosis for stretching tissue about a joint of a patient set forth in  claim 20 , further comprising a locking pin removably positionable through the first arm member and the arm connector to selectively inhibit sliding of the first arm member relative to the arm connector.